Target calls it a wrap on plastic

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HE retail giant Target has confirmed it will ban plastic bags in its 283 Australian stores next month. It will be the first large retailer to break ranks and ban bags on environmental grounds.

Instead of issuing plastic bags to shoppers at checkouts, from June 1 Target will require shoppers to either bring their own bags or buy reusable bags for $1 each or compostable corn starch bags for 10 cents each.

Other retailers are understood to be furious at the decision because it undermines what was a solid retail opposition to banning bags.

Target says the ban will stop 100 million plastic bags from going into landfill and polluting the environment each year - or just under 3 per cent of the 4 billion bags that pass through Australian checkouts each year.

From Monday, South Australia will enforce a ban on plastic bags from all shops, which is expected to save another 400 million bags.

The federal Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, promised to legislate for a national ban last year, but ended up leaving the decision to each state.

Most plastic bags used in Australia end up in landfill tips, though millions find their way into bushland and waterways.

Profits from Target's reusable bag sales will go to a children's charity, The Alannah and Madeline Foundation.
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    Environment,  World,  Earth,  International, 6 more + add
goldenways
  • added June 01, 2009

3 comments // Target calls it a wrap on plastic

  •  

    This will never catch on in America due to the fact that Americans are wary of things like this. $1 dollar a bag? Or bring your own bags... Naw.

    ZeldaMasterZapp
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    umm, i live in America and have been bringing my own cloth reusable bags for years now.. it is fun, and the bags carry way more than stupid plastic bags and I haven't had one break on me yet. Once you buy a few bags you probably won't ever have to buy any again so the $1 dollar per reusable bag shouldn't bother anyone, especially since stores are talking about charging people for using plastic bags, something like 5 to 15cents cents per bag.. doesn't sound like much but it will add up over time.. San Francisco, Oakland, Maui, and many more cities across the country are choosing to eliminate the plastic bag... it is only a matter of time before using plastic bags sounds as strange to everyone as reusable bags seem to now.

    ALLNATURALVEGANS
  •  

    a great idea, wish it would catch on in the States. reusable bags are sold at grocers, and I would use them if I didn't put everything from my basket into a backpack for bicycle transport. I do get plastic bags as useful for animal mess.

    superfinet

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